This topic should be easily answered. I live at 3,500 feet elevation. I am going hiking upwards of 10,000 feet...sorry I don't know the meter conversions. How do I transport my stove (Svea 123R or Optimus 8R)? With or without fuel in the tank. Will the differences in elevation cause the stove to over pressurize and "leak" in the pack or cause a vacuum? Thank you Woodsy
Hey, Woodsy, Good question. Actually, I always have fuel in my chosen stove(s), no matter the elevation, or lack thereof. That way, you are ready for freddy, if the weather takes a turn for the worse. If you take care to change out the gasket for a new one, made of either Nitrile rubber, or Viton, and you remember to close the spindle all the way, your stove should not leak a drop, though it very well may self-pressurize once you reach elevation. If you play your cards right, this will be a plus. Once your stove is in cooking position, carefully crack open the spindle just a tad, and let some Coleman fuel leak down into the spirit cup until it's full. Close the spindle and light the priming fuel. When it is almost totally, but not quite, consumed, crack open your spindle again, and see if the gas catches fire. If so, let it warm up a bit, slowly opening more until full flame has been achieved. Works like puddin' and pie, and saves you from having to use your handy plastic eyedropper (get one if you don't already have one) for priming the stove! I have done if for for way more than 30 years, and it's never failed me, as long as I watch my P's and Q's. Make sure to take a known good extra fuel bottle, small or large, depending on how much you will use your stove, and be sure to replace the cap gaskets, if not near new. The fuel bottles can leak, too, if you are not careful. Have fun, be safe, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. Just remembered another tip. Once you are finished cooking, have turned off your stove, and it is cool to the touch, and making sure you are well away from ANY other source of flame, open your fuel cap and let any built up pressure escape. This will keep you from creating a partial vacuum and causing starting and running problems with your stove. I do it as a course of habit, as do most other Stovies. It's a good habit to develop.
Thank you, Doc. I also need to adjust my max elevation given in initial post, it is only just over 9,000 feet at the summit of Strawberry. I don't believe I will be camping at the summit, but I will be camping between 5,000 and 7,000 feet. Cheers, Woodsy
Doc is right -- there should not be a problem if everything is tight. However, in my case I know that my 8R often would leak a bit as I gained elevation. It was probably aided in that the stove was packed up in the cool of the morning and was warmed by sunlight on the pack as the day went on. Between the drop in pressure and increase in temperature there must of been a little leakage as I occasionally got a whiff of Coleman fuel. It was not much and I never actually detected a "wet spot", nevertheless, it is the reason I never cared much about fitting a stove inside a cooking container. Today, I would just put the stove inside a strong ziplock bag to be sure.
Thanks Itchy. I think I will wrap it in a paper towel prior to going. Then if all else fails, it will be absorbed by the paper and then contained in the Ziplock. Cheers, Bryan
any stove with a working shut-off shouldnt have problems with altitude changes. The discus kero stoves that were made for hiking had a tank cap that you fitted to achieve the same result but fixed leg stoves didnt and they would dribble nice smelly kerosene just from the pressure changes due to heat of the day unless you left the air bleed open. As long as the regulator closes correctly and the cap is good you will be fine
